How to Paint a Room: Ombre Effect

In this video, we will learn how to paint an ombre effect onto a wall

This technique has numerous applications, for example: on a bedroom wall; for the headboard of a bed; a frieze, or border strip; or an alcove in a living room,

We are going to show you two methods: the first uses five shades of colour and copies the shading technique normally found on a work of art, and the second uses three shades of colour and will demonstrate how to break the monotony of a white wall.

To paint an ombre effect, you will need: strips of masking tape, five paint trays, five small paint rollers, four flat paintbrushes with a width of 60 or 80cm (23.5-31inches), and two cans of paint from the same colour family but of different tints

Blend the colours

The first step is the same for both methods and entails mixing your paints.

Begin with the lightest shade of paint. Put one whole measure in the first tray, ¾ of a measure in the second tray, ½ of a measure in the third tray, a ¼ measure in the fourth tray, and none in the fifth tray

Do the opposite with the darker shade of paint: In the fifth paint tray put one whole measure of darker paint, then ¾ of a measure in the 4th, then ½ a measure in the third, a ¼ measure in the second, and none in the first tray, then mix the paint in each of your five paint trays.

Blended shading

The first technique will show you how to get an even, gradual fade effect between your colours of paint. You can do this technique on the entire surface of a wall or in a defined area, like this.

Begin by marking out the desired area on your wall with the help of some masking tape. Here, we’ll mark out a rectangle. Use a spirit level to ensure that the frame you have marked out is straight.

Using a tape measure, make marks along your masking tape to ensure that your bands of paint are of equal width.

Next, using one paint roller per shade of paint, make 5 horizontal strips of paint going from lightest to darkest in colour. You don’t need to worry about being too careful here.

While the paint is still wet, dip one of your flat paintbrushes simultaneously into two paint trays which correspond to the shades of paint on the wall you wish to blend. Wipe off any excess paint on a piece of card.

Then blend the colours between two adjacent horizontal strips of paint and continue in this way between each strip of paint on your wall, like so. Be sure to change paintbrushes for every two colours of paint you blend.

Blended colours in strips

The second technique involves blending strips of varying widths of paint.

Here we will make a motif with 3 vertical bands of paint of differing sizes. For example, 40cm (16in.), 25cm (10in.), 10cm (4in.) going from darker to lighter.

If you have one, you can also use a laser level to make your markings and to measure the distances between your bands of paint. Put masking tape either side of the area you wish to paint. For the middle bands of paint, place your masking tape to the left of your markings, as shown here.

Paint each band making sure to keep a pattern going from dark to lightest, and taking care not to pass over the tape.

When the paint is dry, remove the masking tape. Take care not to leave the masking tape on longer than 48 hours to avoid damaging your walls. Clean all your painting tools thoroughly before the paint dries.

And there you have it, Your ombre effect wall painting is now finished